Sri Lanka Original Narrative Summary: 20/03

1. Ranil Wickremesinghe engaged in discussions with Microsoft representatives at the President’s Office prior to signing an MoU with the Ministry of Education. The MoU marks the commencement of a pilot project integrating Artificial Intelligence into school curricula, initially targeting students above grade 8. Microsoft will support the initiative by providing technical equipment and facilitating online educational activities, demonstrating their commitment to advancing AI in education.

2. Sajith Premadasa told Parliament that the Excise Commissioner General had become a fund raiser for the government’s forthcoming election campaign. He said that he had information that the government was planning to issue 200 new licences for liquor outlets and each of them would help rake in Rs. 20 million. 

3. MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the leader of National People’s Power (NPP) has met with Mizukoshi Hideaki, the Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, at the JVP head office. The focus of the meeting fell on Sri Lanka’s current economic and political situations as well as the upcoming presidential election.

4. The World Bank has hailed Sri Lanka’s toll-free ‘1990 Suwa Seriya’ ambulance service for saving countless lives, while providing citizens the highest level of pre-hospital care.

5. Sri Lanka Customs Officers’ Union has decided to temporarily call off its trade union action following a discussion with Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya. The Customs Officers’ Union said the meeting held with the state minister ended on a positive note. However, more discussions will be convened in the coming days and a final decision is expected to be reached by March 31.

6. Several members of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) have tendered their resignation yesterday seemingly over the appointment of the new Chairman to the committee. The MPs who stepped down on Tuesday (19) are Dayasiri Jayasekera, Professor Charitha Herath, S. M. Marikkar, Gamini Waleboda, Hesha Vithanage, and Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam. The resignations come after Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Eran Wickramaratne became the first member to announce his decision to step down from the COPE Committee on 18th. 

7. Cabinet approval has been granted to continue with the government programme to provide relief to low-income families in 2024 as well. In order to help maintain the nutritional level of the identified low-income earners, it has been found that it is advisable to implement the same program as 2023, this year as well.

8. The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal to draft laws amending the electoral system, aiming to elect 160 Members of Parliament directly from respective constituencies under the First-Past-the-Post system, while 65 MPs will be elected through proportional voting at the national or provincial level. The revision aims to fulfill the objectives of the Election Expenses Regulation Act No. 3 of 2023 and to ensure a fully democratic election, according to the Government Information Department.

9. Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery to be operated as a state-owned business entity disjoined from the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC). The proposal, tabled by Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera, was green-lighted by the Cabinet of Ministers.

10. The Afghanistan ‘A’ Team will tour Sri Lanka from April – May 2024 to play five one-day games and one four-day game with the Sri Lanka ‘A’ Team. According to a Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) statement, the one-day games will be held in Hambantota. The four-day game will be played at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo.